After Hurricanes and Las Vegas Shooting, Countries Warn Citizens About Travel to U.S.

Foreign state departments counsel their travelers to carefully examine 'the necessity' of travel to parts of America.

A little more than a year ago, Germany, France, and New Zealand issued warnings about travel to the U.S., including cautions about Zika, gun violence, and anti-LGBTQ attitudes. Now, in the wake of weeks of severe hurricanes and yesterday's Las Vegas concert shooting, which left at least 58 dead and more than 400 injured, other countries have updated their warnings. This is what they're saying.

The United Kingdom: On its page for foreign travel advice, the U.K. says that terrorists are "very likely to try to carry out attacks in the USA," and that U.K. citizens should be vigilant. In its October 2 update, the government summarizes the Las Vegas attack and asks U.K. citizens to avoid the area. The page also has advice for travelers in the Caribbean, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, noting that after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the "post-storm situation remains dangerous, with extreme flooding, power outages, and limited communications."

Germany: The German government updated its travel and safety instructions page to include a summary of the Las Vegas attack, asking German citizens to follow the advice of local authorities. The government also asks travelers looking to travel to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to carefully examine the "necessity" of their travel there, cautioning that flooding and landslides are possibilities. In its general information section, the mention of firearms, as previously reported by Traveler, remains: "In the U.S., it is comparatively easy to get possession of weapons. If you become a victim of an armed attack, do not try to defend yourself!"

Ireland: Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its warning after Hurricane Irma, and includes, in the security status, a mention of some of the dangers of traveling to the U.S., writing that there is an "increased threat of terrorism and extremist violence worldwide" and that the "USA has also witnessed a number of mass shootings in recent years."

Australia: Country officials still say it's safe to travel to the U.S., but that travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. territory of Puerto Rico should be reconsidered at this time. Noting a "high level of risk," the page cites recovery efforts in the region as well as extended disruptions to "essential services." In general safety tips, Australian citizens are informed that the U.S. has more violent crime than Australia, and that "mass shootings continue to occur in public places."